Chapter 10: Race and Ethnicity
-
Upload
gillian-henry -
Category
Documents
-
view
45 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Chapter 10: Race and Ethnicity
CHAPTER 10: RACE AND ETHNICITY
RACE AND ETHNICITY What is race?
A category of people who have been singled out as inferior or superior, often on the basis of real or alleged physical characteristics such as: skin
color, hair texture, eye shape, or other attributes Sociologists emphasize that race is a socially constructed reality In fact, most humans are practically identical (genetically) to each
other, so classifying by race is overwhelmingly phonotypical (or only skin deep)
Ethnic groups An ethnic group is a collection of people distinguished, by
others, or by themselves, primarily on the basis of cultural or nationality characteristics
Such as Irish Americans, Jewish Americans, Italian Americans, etc. They all share five main characteristics
Cultural traits, community sense, ethnocentrism, ascribed membership, and territoriality
DOMINANT AND SUBORDINATE GROUPS
A group that is considered to be advantaged, and has superior rights in a society
In the U.S.; whites with European ancestry (particularly males)
A group whose members are disadvantaged and subjected to unequal treatment by the dominant group
In the U.S.; persons of color, women, and most immigrants Most members of
subordinate groups regard themselves as being subject of collective discrimination
Dominant Groups Subordinate Groups
PREJUDICE A negative attitude based on faulty generalizations about members of selected racial and ethnic groups
Prejudice can be positive or negative From the Latin “prae-judicium,” meaning “before judgment”
Stereotypes and racism Stereotypes: Overgeneralizations about the appearance,
behaviors, or other characteristics of members of particular categories
i.e. the misunderstandings of Native American culture, portrayed in college and professional mascots
Racism: A set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that is used to justify the superior treatment of one racial or ethnic group, and the inferior treatment of another racial or ethnic group
Can be overt or subtle (blatant or inferred); overt would be derogatory remarks, subtle would be implying a certain race is “better suited” or “natural” in positions like sports or leadership
TH
EO
RIE
S A
ND
MEA
SU
RIN
G O
F
PR
EJU
DIC
E
Keep in mind that a prejudice is an attitude, whereas discrimination is taking action
Frustration-aggression hypothesis Scapegoat: A person or group that is incapable of
offering resistance to the hostility or aggression of others
Often blaming a minority group for societal problems, or a focal point for their frustrations
According to Symbolic-Interactionists; prejudice is a learned behavior
Children growing up do not have a frame of reference for prejudice. Being praised for, or encouraging, certain jokes or remarks reinforces prejudice
Theodor W. Adorno and the authoritarian personality Prejudiced individuals tend to enforce excessive
conformity, submissiveness to authority, intolerance, insecurity, a high level of superstition, and rigid, stereotypic thinking
Social distance The extent to which people are willing to interact
and establish relationships with members of racial and ethnic groups other than their own
Some groups are identified as more desirable among various ethnic groups
DISCRIMINATION
Involves actions or practices of dominant-group members (or their representatives) that have a harmful impact on members of a subordinate group
Prejudiced attitudes do not necessarily lead to discriminatory behavior
Genocide is the deliberate systematic killing of an entire people or nation
Merton’s Typology of Prejudice and Discrimination
Prejudiced Attitude?
Discriminatory Behavior?
Unprejudiced Non-
DiscriminatorNo No
Unprejudiced Discriminator No Yes
Prejudiced Non-
DiscriminatorYes No
Prejudiced Discriminator Yes Yes
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON RACE Symbolic-Interactionist
Contact hypothesis Contact between people from divergent groups should lead to favorable
attitudes
Functionalist Assimilation
A process by which members of subordinate racial and ethnic groups become “absorbed” into the dominant culture
Can occur at various levels; such as, cultural, structural, biological, and psychological
Conflict Economic stratification of races and classes, particularly
caste and class based discrimination Others include internal colonialism, split-labor-market theory, and
gendered, racial, and social theories
*Critical Race Theory* Derived from ideas of civil rights leaders
Racism as an ingrained feature of society that affects everyone’s daily life
Native Americans
Believed to have migrated from Asia more than 10,000 years ago, currently about 1.5% of population. Received full citizenship in 1924; historically, have had limited opportunities and high unemployment and crime
White Anglo-Saxon
Protestants (WASPs)
Perhaps the most privileged group, biggest divergence in privileges is gender. Many consider themselves as having no race or ethnicity.
African Americans
Roughly 40 million in U.S., involuntarily brought to America in mid 1600’s as indentured servants and eventually slaves. Though freed in 1863, whites in particular have subject them to many indignities. Though less prevalent today, there are still prejudicial and discriminatory practices occurring.
White Ethnic Americans
Includes Irish, Italian, Jewish among many subgroups, prejudicial and discriminatory practices shifted as immigration increased for different groups. Now heavily assimilated, most people do not view having such an ethnic background as negative.
Asian AmericansIncludes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino. Currently the fastest growing minority group (5% and increasing), almost all received a high degree of discrimination and even violence until after World War II.
Hispanic Americans
From either Latin-America or Iberian peninsula, with recent immigration and societal issues, they are currently receiving the majority of the stereotyping. Many however are making a lasting impact on the country in terms of literature, sports, and cultural preferences.
Middle Eastern Americans
Around 1970’s immigration became prevalent, and up until the September 11 attacks had been an integral part of society. After the attacks, they received intense scrutiny and in some instances, “hate” crimes.
RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE U.S.
REFERENCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
o Sociology In Our Times (Seventh Edition)o By: Diana Kendall
o Notes incorporatedo By: James V. Thomas, NIU Professor (Emeritus)o Formatted By: Jacob R. Kalnins, NIU student
o Pictures Incorporatedo Clip Art (PowerPoint: 2007)o Google Images: Sociology In Our Times